By Sara Seregni
“If AI is applied well, it can do good and bring opportunities to the progress of human civilization and provide great impetus to the industrial and scientific revolution.”
Li Qiang, the World Economic Forum, Davos 2024
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming our world. It offers governments powerful tools to modernize governance and improve public services by simplifying operations, enhancing decision-making, and delivering more efficient, tailored services to their citizens. However, as highlighted at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025, held in Davos, Switzerland, technology is now the primary driver of change and disruption across several sectors, and strong leadership governing is crucial. Global leaders must develop the capacity to utilize AI to the fullest and work together to find common solutions to tackle pressing global issues like poverty and food insecurity.
AI and modern governance
Integrating AI into government operations has the potential to transform public administration by helping governments address growing societal needs. Advanced technologies can rapidly adapt to the country’s specific challenges and create new opportunities for its citizens, namely by increasing transparency, service accessibility, and public engagement.
Several United Nations agencies and international organizations have explored the intersection between AI, improved public services, and governance modernization.
One such organization is the High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence, established in 2023 to analyze and develop international governance of AI. This advisory body adopts a multistakeholder approach, bringing together technology experts to build recommendations that align with good governance and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while simultaneously addressing the correlated risks of AI. As stated by the UN Governing AI for Humanity Final Report (2024), without proper governance, AI and ICT opportunities may widen the digital divide and could exacerbate digital inequalities rather than bridge them. The Interim Report on Governing AI for Humanity (2023) stresses the need for inclusive, universal AI governance following the UN Charter, International Human Rights Law, and SDGs. Key recommendations include ensuring that AI serves the public interest and promoting its responsible implementation towards sustainable development. In other words, AI governance is crucial to address its challenges and risks but also to lead global change and innovation without leaving anyone behind.
Empowering people through AI
Beyond modernizing governance, AI can empower communities worldwide by expanding access to essential services like healthcare, education, and food security. For instance, AI can support telemedicine services and ensure medical care reaches the most underserved populations in remote areas. AI-driven agricultural technologies can help farmers optimize crop yields and reduce food waste, ultimately improving food production and distribution. Introducing digital tools in schools can also provide innovative educational resources, including personalized learning experiences, job training, and economic opportunities, making education more accessible to marginalized communities.
As technology reshapes our world, global leaders must adopt careful, inclusive approaches to AI governance. AI can create numerous opportunities for people, but effective policies need to ensure that no one is left behind. By making AI accessible to all, governments can bridge the digital divide, strengthen communities, and build a more equitable and accessible society.
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